Post hole digger



July, 18, 1939- A. B. CRQZIER 2,166,395

(POST HOLE BIGGER -Filed.Sept. 20, 1958 Inventor be driven from the Patented July 18, 1939 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE ros'r non: BIGGER August B. Crozier, Wall'ord,-Iowa Application September so. 1938, Serial No. 230,878

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in post hole diggers and has for its primary object to provide, Ina manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character embodying a novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts through the medium of which the auger constituting a part thereof may tractor.

Another very important object -of the invention is to provide a post hole digger of the aforemen ,oned character embodying novel means for manually controlling the vertical movement of the auger. I

Other objects of the invention are to provide a post hole digger of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction,

strong, durable, highly efiicient and reliable in use, compact and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still furtherobjects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the I several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of an embodiment of the invention, showing the device mounted for tractor.

Figure 2 is a view in vertical section through the drive mechanism.

Figure 3 is a view in horizontal section,.taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view, taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention whichhas been illustrated of suitable metal which is designated generally by the reference numeral I, said housing being open at its front, as at 2. Formed integrally with the housing I are vertically alined bearings 3 and 4. Projecting forwardly from the upper portion of the bearing 4 in the housing I is a bearing 5. The bearing 4, it will be noted, extends below the housing I and projectingforwardly from the usual power"take-oif of a' operation on the rear end of a comprises a housing usual power take of! on the rear end of the tractor I, as at II. Fixed on the rear end portion of the drive shaft III and operable in the housing I is a pinion gear I2.

The reference numeral I3 designates a vertical shaft which is rotatably and slidably mounted in the bearings 3- and 4 of the housing I and which extends above and below said housing. Fixed on the lower end portion of the shaft I3 is a suitable auger I4. The reference numeral I5 designates a. bevelled gear which is mounted horizontally in the upper portion of the housing I and which is splined on the shaft I3 between the bearings 3 and 4. The gear I5 is driven by the gear I2. The gears I2 and I5 may be of any suitable ratio. It will thus be seen that the shaft II, while being driven by the gear I5, is free for vertical sliding movement.

The reference numeral I5 designates a metallic supporting member or bar having one end portion pivotally connected to the tractor l and rising therefrom. Pivotally mounted, at an intermediate point, on the upper end portion of the supporting bar I8 is a hand lever II. One end portion of the hand lever I1 is coupled to the upper end of the shaft I3 throughthe medium of a ball and socket connection I8.

It is thought that the operation of the device will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. The vertical shaft I3 is driven from the power take off of the tractor I for rotating the auger I4 through the shaft III and the gears I2 and I5. The hand lever I'I permits the auger I4 to be raised and lowered as desired for feeding said auger into the ground or for.

vice is as illustrated and described, it is to be.

understoodthat changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangein thehousing I. The drive shaft ment of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

A post hole digger comprising a housing having an opening therein, a pair of vertically aligned spaced bearings integral with said housing, the lowermost bearing extending upwardly into the housing, a third bearing extending horizontally from the upper portion of said lowermost bearing in the housing, a vertical shaft extending rotatably and slidably through the first named bearings, an auger fixed on the lower end portion of said vertical shaft, 9, drive shaft having one end portion journalled in the third named bearing, gears operatively connecting the vertical shaft to the drive shaft for actuation thereby, and means for manually raising and lowering the vertical shaft, said means including an upstanding supporting member having its lower end portion pivotally connected to a support, a hand lever pivotally mounted, at an intermediate point, on the upper portionof said supporting member. and a ball and socket connection coupling one end of said hand lever to the upper end of the vertical shaft.

AUGUST 3. CROZIER. 

